Foot ventilating shoe



Jrmy Il?, w s. W. @LTRQGGE FOOT VENTILATING SHOE Filed July ll.. 1949 In ventor Bernard W. Olfragge `Patented `uly 17, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2 claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ventilated footwear for male and female wearers in which users will lfind their normal needs and requirements fully -/meig contained and appropriately available.

i'circulate atmospheric air within the confines of a.- .shoe and to so accomplish this end that the foot is ventilated, especially during the act of walking, to promote comfort and, more especially,

ito keep the foot dry by reducing perspiration to a minimum. In carrying out the principles of the instant invention, I have evolved and produced ventilating means for boots and shoes, especially high- -top styles, which is possessed of certain refinevirfifents, betterments and improvements and is destined, I submit, to more satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of practical ventilated shoes.

i--{In reducing to practice a preferred embodiment ofthe stated invention, I employ a simple and economical laminated insert which may be readily-embodied in a conventional-type of shoe, said insert functioning as afoot cushioning pad as well as a pump and air circulating and distributing device.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings. y

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are utilized to designate like elements and parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a conventional shoe equipped with my improved ventilating means, the section being taken approximately on the horizontal line I-I of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and with parts in section and elevation.

Figure 2 is a vertical section which is cut on the approximate section line 2--2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sections on the lines 3 3 and 4*4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the respective sets of arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional and elevadistinguishing reference numerals and lead lines, the numeral I designates a boot or shoe embodying a sole 8, a heel 9, upper I0, and toe or toebox II. Ihave not attempted to show in great detail the construction of the shoe,`since it is the Ventilating attachment with which I am concerned and therefore I desire it to be understood that the so-called shoe may be high, low, a boot or for male and female use, as the case may be.

Reference is had now to Figure 2 wherein it will be seen that the laminated insert is made up of a top ply or insole I2 and a complemental correspondingly proportioned and shapedlower ply I3, also an insole. These plies are of suitable leather or equivalent stock and the coacting heel portions 'I4 and I5 are spaced apart and the forward sole portions'IG and I1 are in close superimposed relation and suitably fastened together. The overall length of the insert is such that the forward end is spaced from the interior of the toe-box to provide an air discharge and circulating space I8 as shown'in Figure 2'. This is the only edge portion of the insert which is spaced from corresponding and surrounding portions of the shoef That is to say, the insert, except for the space I 8, is tted snugly and tightly in place to coact with surrounding shoe portions. Reference being had to Figure 1, it will be seen that the numerals I9 and 20 designate tubes embedded in said sole portions I6 and I1, and these discharge at their forward open ends into the space I8. The opposite or rearward ends communicate with an intermediate transverse zone 2I. This zone 2l is characterized primarily by several sponge rubber blocks 22, 23l and-24 and these are spaced apart to provide communicating passages which, in turn, communicatively register with the tubes I9 and 20. These passageways are supplied with air by way of 'a suitable check valve 25 which is appropriately mounted in a cross member` 26 which is also a divider. That is to say, 26 serves as a mount for the valve 25 and also divides the multiple passage area or temporary air trapping and distributing zone 2I from what may be differentiated as the heel and circulator unit. The latter, which is in effect a pump, is made up of a multiplicity of substantially rectangular sponge rubber blocks 21 which are arranged in rows with the rows defining aisles or passageways for air circulation, the same denoted by the numerals 28. By interposing this multiplicity of blocks between the plies or portions I4 and I5, a cellular chamber is thus provided. Not only do the blocks de- 3 fine the passageways, but they constitute resilient springs which respond to the lifting and lowering movements of the heel of the wearer.

Air is delivered to the pump by way of an intake hose or pipe 29 which extends up to the interior of the shoe from the pump and has its intake end 30 (Figure 5) hooked over the upper edge of the upper of the shoe, the edge denoted by the numeral 3|. A suitable U-Shaped clip 32 is employed as an adapter and this is removably fitted over said edge 3l and is suitably apertured to take care of the bend or hook 33 (see Figure 5). The lower end of the air intake tube is fashioned into a slitted conical terminal or head 34 which also functions as a check valve. The timed action of the valves 34 and 25 is alternating, as is obvious.

It will be obvious from the description and drawings that the shoe shown and described literally breathes and thus satisfactorily ventilates. thewearers foot. It functions with requisitefnicety to keep the enclosed foot dry and cool insummerA time. I have a theoryy that by placing theinta'ke end 30 of the air intake tube 29 close to thewearers leg, suicient heat would be generated at this point that it would be possible to use the construction inthe winter timeY to "warm" the'foot.

It will Abe obvious that when walking, the pump means described serves to suck or draw fresh air through thedelivery tube 29 every time the'ioot'is picked up. Then, when the foot goes downand` pressure is brought to bear on the pump, the latter functions to close the valve 34 andto-.fcrcethe valve 25 open and to simultaneouslyforce air which has been trapped in the pump into the space means or zone l2l and then through the ducts I9 and 2li-for delivery to the space-.18, all in` an` obvious manner. Conse quentlyythe .alternate operation of valves 25 and 34iservesvto achieve wanted ends of taking in air anddelivering it for'properly Ventilating the wea-rers foot.

lFor convenience of broadly visualizing the structuraladaptations, the cushioned heel portionV of the insert defines the air intake, trapping and'pumping chamber which is characterized by anfair-intake hose or. tube with a check valve incorporated-in saidpump. The zone 2| is also a valved-chamber and receives its air from the thoughthere herein shown and described a D .preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An insertable and removable ventilator for footwear comprising an insert embodying upper and lower Acomplemental plies of flexible material having sole 4portions superimposed on one another and directly connected together, and having their intermediate arch and heel portions spaced apart, a cross member mounted between the intermediate arch portions and constituting a divider and defining a temporary air trapping and distributing zone, a plurality of fcompressibly resilient blocks interposed between said heel portions and spaced from each other and defining air circulating passages and a foot actuated pump, a check valve mounted in said cross member and communicating at' its intake end with saidpump and having its discharge end emptying into said trapping zone, air distributing tubesv between said sole portions and communicating at their inner ends with said trapping zone and discharging at their opposite-'ends through the tip .portions of said sole. portions,. and valved conduit means communicativelyv connected with said pump.

2. rIhe ystructure specied in claim 1 .wherein said means embodies a U.clip for detachable connection with ashoe upper, a conduit connected at one end with saidl clip vand vformed into an intake hook and connected at its remaining end with a valve'located in 4said pump.

' BERNARD W. OLTROGGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED vSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,495 Falkner Apr. 29, 1890 466,061 Locke Dec. 29, 1891 1,056,008 Cotton Mar. 18, 1913 1,260,942 Price let al Mar. 26, 1918 1,317,161 Hay Sept. 30, 1919 1,525,501 Gendron. Feb. 10, 1925 1,649,236 Jurcsak Nov.. 15, 1927 2,010,151 Helwig Aug. 6, 1935 2,086,790 Wroten July.13, 1937 2,109,657 Perault Mar.1, 1938 2,442,026 Thompson May 25,1948 .2,474,815 Brahm July 5, 1949 FOREIGN. PATENTS Number Country Date 89,045 Sweden Apr. 13, 1937 

